**This article was written and published in December 2023**
MASSILLON, OH- The Tigers of Massillon have done it, simply put they got the monkey off their back by capturing the OHSAA Div. II State Championship on a not so normal November night at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in front of what looked like their whole community. For so long many doubted that this would happen to a program rich in tradition and has national attention year in and year out but it happened, a close victory over what many to perceive to be a rival when it comes to playoffs over the last few years the Akron Archbishop Hoban Knights who won State crowns from 2015-2018 and again in 2020 (vs. Massillon).
Massillon Head Coach Nate Moore who is the football programs winningest Coach in history surpassing the legendary Paul Brown who was hired in 2015 to lead the program back to prominence, simply put bring a championship to Massillon Ohio after winning a state title the year before at Cincinnati LaSalle so the writing was on the table did Massillon get their guy?
Moore's first season at the helm it was a loosing season going 4-6 and did not qualify for the post-season and a loss to arch rival Canton McKinley so in the minds of who followed Massillon football was this the right hire many wondered. Following the 2015 season Moore would have to pull a rabbit out his hat if the 2016 campaign would resemble the previous season to much anticipation the Tigers finished 8-3 making the playoffs and loosing in the first round to Dublin Scioto.
After the 2015 season Moore and company never saw a loosing season in his tenure leading up to his state title win going 10-4 (2017), 14-1 (2018) loosing state title game to none other than the Knights of Archbishop Hoban, so close but the title eluded them again, (2019) again Moore takes his team to an undefeated regular season and making the state title game again only to lose to his former program Cincinnati LaSalle once again the title eluded them.
2020 was an usual year because of the pandemic, although going 10-2 and making another state title run and having the privilege to host it on their home field the results were still the same the title eluded them being defeated by none other the Knights of Archbishop Hoban the 3rd consecutive year coming up empty so again many speculated about Moore winning the big one considering the wins that he was piling up along the way.
2021 was no different than previous seasons going 11-3 winning key games heading for a deep run in playoffs but this year the train stopped in the regional finals with an unusual loss to Federal League foe the Green Bulldogs at Mansfield Arlin Field many questioned the officiating that particular game but once again the state title had eluded them once again. The 2022 season had the same feel Massillon was primed to run the tables again for another shot at that elusive state title going (12-2) but again loosing to those pesky Archbishop Hoban Knights in the State Semi-finals at Akron Infocision Stadium another season where the State title eluded the Tigers.
Finally, in 2023 the mighty Tigers of Massillon opened up the season with a victory over a well known High School Program the Wildcats of Valdosta and a week 5 win over at the time 3-time State Champion the Eagles of Lakewood St. Edward this had to be a sign that this could finally be the year the Tigers get that so elusive State Championship trophy, going undefeated again in the regular season and strong playoff push would land them in the State Title game once again against a familiar foe in the Archbishop Hoban Knights the stage was set.
The 2023 edition of the Massillon Tigers were different than that i have seen in previous years, a very balanced team with a lot of intention and purpose I covered week 1, 5 and first round of playoffs vs. Westerville South, Massillon dominated the better part of the season putting running clocks on 11 opponents and dominating throughout the playoffs it had to be the year of the Massillon Tigers being led by Senior QB DaOne Owens and Senior LB and Bowling Green commit Dorian Pringle (who was questionable for game due to injury suffered in first round of playoffs) suited up and put on for the city.
Well folks the so we thought was impossible was possible after a grueling defensive battle which only put out 9 total points for a championship game The Massillon Tigers captured that elusive state championship trophy that eluded them for so many years finally landed on 1 Paul Brown Drive SE under the guise of none other than Nate Moore who will forever be etched in the proud and tradition rich history of The Massillon Tigers you now have 25 State Championships.
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